February 10, 2009 The Bugle-Observer The idiocy of increasing supply as demand falls Dear Editor, The forest industry has been in decline for some time, market demand for our wood has slumped and yet we have a new announcement from our government increasing the industry's ability to cut more trees, convert our mixed forest to tree farms and to deplete another swath of protected and conservation areas. This is all to be done on OUR CROWN LAND. Nothing for small woodlot owners, just another hand out for large industry. JD Irving is of course pleased and has said so in much of the media over the past few days. "This is good for our company," Irving said. What a farce, all revenue coming from Crown Land cutting doesn't even meet the operational costs of the government department in Fredericton in charge of Crown Land management. So many public consultations over the past few years, and still the government announces this measure which is counter to the interests of anyone other than the remaining dinosaur companies we are stuck with who want to get every last stick to fuel their corporate greedy pockets. The consultations asked what people in New Brunswick wanted from their Crown land management. Most responded they wanted to see more protected areas, more small mills and small wood product industries, more maple syrup operations, more respect for our existing forests, reduce clear cutting and definitely less plantations. Plantations mean herbicide and pesticide spraying, all running down hill into our water systems, whatever they tell you about it being SAFE. Why do we have governments in hand with industry to the exclusion of the people? When will this stop? How can we reverse this trend or we shall continue to have one company sucking the lifeblood out of our province and our people? Jean Arnold, Falls Brook Centre, Knowlesville